Class of 1884
'B4'S FIFTY-YEAR REUNION
By virtue of the lapse of time '84 held the high place of Honor Class during Commencement season this year. The class met the demands of this preeminence with a dignity becoming septuagenarians, and with the spirit and solidarity that have characterized its undertakings throughout its long history.
Ben George and Charley Eldredge were the first arrivals, coming in from Chicago on Thursday. Friday brought most of the men. When Fall and Bowles appeared on Saturday morning, the roster of '84 men "coming back to give the Mother hail" was complete. They were Adams, Bowles, Dinsmore, Eldredge, Emerson, Fall, George, Hodgdon, Houston, Howard, Hulbert, Hutchinson, Lord, Matthews, Slade, Starr, and Woodward. Of the honorary members of the class, Mrs. Laird, Mrs. Quincy, and Mrs. Sargent were in attendance.
The first gathering together of the class was at the Alumni Luncheon on Saturday at noon. The members were seated at a table allotted to the Honor Class, just below and in front of the speakers' rostrum. The Secretary made a brief address in behalf of the class, during which he presented to President Hopkins "The Golden Book of Dartmouth College" as a memorial of '84's Fifty-Year Reunion and a token of continued loyalty to the College. The Book was hand-made by the artist Graban of Buffalo, and is a fine specimen of the art of making books. It is a thing of beauty, and it is hoped that it may prove a joy to many for at least a century. It is 10 by 121/2 inches, bound in full levant, acid-free, hand-tooled in pure gold, shows on the front cover the above title, the seal of the College, and below this the words "After Fifty Years." Then at the bottom the numerals 1884-1934, all in pure gold. The predominant color is green, the Dartmouth green, with just enough maroon to relieve the monotony. It contains 200 pages of the best paper obtainable. It is dedicated to the use of Honor Classes, wherein each year at Commencement time succeeding classes may have transcribed such data from their history as each class may deem appropriate. Four pages are allotted to a class, thus accommodating fifty classes, 1884 to 1933 inclusive.
"AULD LANG SYNE"
Most of the men attended the ball game with Cornell in the afternoon, and all gathered in front of Dartmouth Hall for the reunion photographs at six o'clock.
At 7:30 P.M. sixteen members of the class sat down to the class dinner in the Card Room of College Hall. Bowles left before that hour. After satisfying the wants of the inner man, "Johnny Lord" filled up the Class Pipe, which was passed around the table, each man taking a whiff for "Auld Lang Syne." This pipe served at the first class supper on February si, 1881, and was kept by Custodian "Bob" Rolfe until his death in 1932, when it came into the keeping of Ben George. It is now in the archives of the College with '84's collection of class mementos. The routine business was soon disposed of, with Eldredge acting as president in his usual efficient manner. The following were elected as officers for the ensuing five years: president, B. P. George; vice-president, Rev. T. M. Hodgdon; financial secretary, B. P. George; corresponding secretary, J. P. Houston; and W. J. Starr to complete the executive committee.
In a neat .little speech Eldredge thanked the class for the honor conferred upon him as acting president, and introduced the Rev. Charles A. Dinsmore, D.D., as the presiding officer of the Feast of Reason. With his wonted felicity "Dizzy" accepted the post and its responsibilities. Under his master hand this part of the reunion was eminently satisfactory and enjoyable. The general subject for the evening was, "What the Fifty Years Have Taught Me." Formal responses were made by E. D. Emerson, Rev. T. M. Hodgdon, W. J. Starr, and H. B. Hulbert. Then Ernest Howard was called up to toast "Dartmouth and '84." Then followed an informal talk-fest, participated in by most of the men not on the formal program. After drinking in silence to the memory of the men who have died since the last reunion, the men quietly separated.
The class of 'B4 was well represented at the Baccalaureate on Sunday morning. At 4 P.M. a memorial service was held in the parlor of North Massachusetts Hall, class headquarters, conducted by Rev. C. L. Adams, D.D., and Rev. William Slade. The Rev. Messrs. Hulbert, Hodgdon, and Dinsmore and the Secretary participated. Immediately after this the class went in a body to Carpenter Hall to view the portrait of Prof. George D. Lord, given to the College as a memorial of its last reunion. At 7 P.M. the men of 'B4 and their guests gathered in the Card Room of College Hall for the Family Supper. This was a thoroughly enjoyable part of the reunion. It is fitting here to make mention of the excellence of the service given by Mine Host Fairfield, which in every respect did credit to his established good repute as a provider of things edible and courteous treatment.
Monday A.M. saw most of the men taking their departure. Six only remained to take their places in the procession from Webster Hall to the Bema for the Commencement exercises. Members of the Honor Class are the only representatives of the alumni body in this procession, and are assigned seats on the platform along with members of the faculty and other worthies of the College.
Thus ended '84's Fifty-Year Reunion.
Emerson, Dinsmore, and Hodgdon with their families spent the summer in Maine, enjoying the climate, bathing, etc., of that summer haven from heat and other trials the less fortunate must endure. They had at least one get-together, which each has assured the Secretary was a most happy event in a very satisfactory vacation time.
The sale of the Gleason Sanitarium on May 1 to two New York City physicians made Houston's services no longer needed, and on July 1 he left there and went to his home at Traverse City, Mich.
Secretary, R. F. D. 1, Traverse City, Mich.
